Great Falls' new teachers learn the ropes before school

Jordann Lankford answers a question during new teacher training at Great Falls High on Tuesday. Lankford will be an academic achievement coach for Native American students at C.M. Russell High School when classes begin in Great Falls Public Schools on Sept. 4.(Photo: TRIBUNE PHOTO/KRISTEN CATES.)Buy Photo

Jordann Lankford is thankful she's not getting thrown in the deep end with her new teaching position in Great Falls Public Schools.

Though she's been teaching in another school district for the last couple of years, Lankford said she's glad she and the other new teachers Great Falls hired this year get the opportunity to learn the ropes of PowerSchool, assessments and more well before the first bell sounds welcoming students Sept. 4. She'll be an academic achievement coach for Native American students at C.M. Russell High School.

"It's a lot of information, but it's stuff we need to know," Lankford said. "It makes me feel more confident about walking in on the first day."

This year, Great Falls Public Schools has 75 new teachers to train — the largest group Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools Ruth Uecker has seen in a number of years. Some of the new teachers were hired due to the levy passage, allowing for more classroom and instructional coaches. But a large portion of the new teachers come due to attrition — either a large percentage of teachers retiring or moving on to different jobs. Either way, Uecker said there is a lot of information teachers need to have before the school years starts and Great Falls goes above and beyond in making sure they are prepared.

"There's a lot of on-boarding that needs to happen," Uecker said. "Hopefully it's a gradual process, but it's a lot to get ready for the new school year."

Uecker said Great Falls Public Schools is unique in that new teachers are given five full days of orientation before district-mandated training starts next week. This week teachers are learning about different aspect of technology the district uses, assessments, classroom management, parent communication and more. The district also partners new teachers up with mentors and does extended training for second and third-year teachers.

"It's exciting," she said. "The energy is incredible."

Aaron Brien is new to Great Falls this year, having spent the last six years teaching in Yakima, Wash. Brien will teach algebra and intermediate algebra at Great Falls High this year. He said he and his wife are excited to be in Great Falls and closer to family.

Though he has six years of teaching experience under his belt, Brien said it would be incredibly overwhelming to walk into school blind on the first day. He'll be roaming this year and won't have a classroom of his own, so in addition to learning the information he needs to know to be a teacher in Great Falls Public Schools, he's also got to figure out where his classrooms are — much like many of the high school freshmen will feel.

But he said he's grateful for the five extra days to learn the system and some additional training.

"It's phenomenal in terms of the number of things they cover," he said. "This did not happen in my last school district."